Job interviews can bring jitters even to the most confident and experienced job seekers among us.
The next stage of your career is on the line, you have to be prepared for everything and anything and you need to appear cool and collected in the process.Here's a sampling of advanced strategies for job interviews, going beyond the standard tips like dressing appropriately and always being honest. The ideas are culled from three helpful books on the subject: "101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview," by Richard Fein (Impact Publications, 1996); "A Funny Thing Happened at the Interview," by Gregory Farrell (Edin Books, 1996); and "The Interview Kit," by Richard Beatty (John Wiley & Sons, 1995):
- Research the company before the interview, Beatty says. Use corporate annual reports, the library, your stockbroker and current and past employees. Find out about company products and services, markets, key customers, general philosophy, sales trends, cost trends, profit trends, growth plans and key challenges.
- Subtly ask the interviewer what qualities the company seeks in the person who fills this job. Beatty recommends asking "What factors do you feel are the most important for success in this position?" Then zero in on those factors and demonstrate that you have them.
- Steer the interview toward discussing the long-term strategic changes the employer wants in this position, Beatty suggests. Frame yourself as a "positive change agent," telling how you'd go beyond doing the job the way it`s been done before.
- Don't ignore negatives signs about the employer during the interview; they usually are good indicators about what kind of organization you`re dealing with. Examples: If the employer asks illegal questions about your gender or handicap, treats subordinates rudely, asks too many questions about your personal life or makes insensitive comments about certain people.
- Scan the interviewer's office for clues about the kind of person he or she is. You might find some good conversation starters and prevent yourself from saying something offensive. Farrell writes of one candidate who insulted Harvard graduates during an interview, noticing too late the Harvard diplomas on the interviewer`s wall.
- Don't ask questions in such a way that they reveal your weaknesses or "hot buttons." Examples, from Fein`s book: "Would I have to meet a lot of deadlines?" suggests that you have trouble meeting them. "Is relocation necessary?" indicates you may be unwilling to move.
- Don't underestimate the power of asking good questions. Fein says his survey of 1,000 employers revealed that if you don't ask questions, you're hurting your chances of getting the job. Fein suggests many possibilities, ranging from how performance evaluations are conducted to how the company's mission statement is put into practice to how the company plans to use technology to aid in its growth.
- Bring written questions with you to the interview if it helps you be more relaxed and articulate, Fein says. It shows that you put a lot of thought into preparing for the interview.
(Paula Ancona is the author of `SuccessAbilities! 1003 Practical Ways to Keep Up, Stand Out and Move Ahead at Work' (Chamisa Press, 1995). She has been writing about workplace and career issues since 1988. Write her c/o this newspaper or send e-mail via to 73537.3367 compuserve.com.)